Being the oldest of seven siblings meant you often ended up filling somewhat of a parental role. He was eight when the twins were born. He remembers them clearly, the two tiny pink faces in their parents arms. Fred had always been the louder the two but that wasn't saying much the twins were getting up to mischief pretty much from the time they could walk. They adored their big brothers, even Percy who actually enjoyed their presence in those early days till he turned seven and decided he was a grown up. They followed Bill around like excitable puppies bouncing on their heels and practically tumbling over each other in their excitement. There were quiet moments too, whenever Dad was working late and Mum was busy with one of their siblings Fred and George would come to him.
One such memory comes to him through the haze and fog at the Battle of Hogwarts. It's August, 1981 and he's preparing to go to Hogwarts. Percy is sick with the dragon pox and baby Ginny is colicky so their parents are busy. He hears a knock at his door and opens it to see a three-year-old Fred, eyes wide and teary with George just behind him. He beckons them inside helping them crawl up onto his bed.
Fred, as usual, speaks up first "We both had nightmares" George nods rapidly from behind him.
"What were your nightmares about?" he asks. George pipes up this time, " The Dragon King tried to get us and you were at Hogwarts"
He remembers smiling, The Dragon King was a game that Charlie had made even before Percy was born where Charlie was the mean Dragon King and Bill the heroic Dragon trainer there to protect people, usually their little brothers once they were old enough to play along.
" I don't want you to go to Hogwarts you're asposta to protect us" Fred pouts, his lips wiggling in an attempt not to cry
He opens his arms and the twins crawl to him and nuzzle into his chest, " I'm not going to let anything happen to you guys I promise"
The memory ends abruptly there. And he's back in the present watching George sob over Fred's dead body and all he can think is "I failed, I broke my promise, I'm so sorry" over and over and over until Fleur's hand on his shoulder breaks him out of his daze.
Seeing the grief and worry on her face makes everything come crashing down on him in an instant. He lets out a cry then collapses into her arms sobbing harder than he ever has in its entire life.